I knew from the title this was going to be a hard read but good one. It’s really said how a book like this is the reality for some many people. Two siblings accused for something they didn’t do based off the color of their skin. I would recommend this for everyone but especially young adults.

Come Home Safe is a gripping story that feels all too real in today’s world. This story touches on the precautions young Black children and teens need to take when apprehended by the police and shows the true nature of some people when given the opportunity to place blame on the wrong person.

Olive and Reed are young children, 12 and 14, who are minding their business and following the law. Yet we see one story for each child that shows just how easily it is for Black children to be seen as trouble makers when they’re doing anything but causing trouble. These stories had my heart pounding. Although I know this is a work of fiction, it sounds like many stories I’ve heard before that unfortunately were not fiction. This is a must read for everyone.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Brian Buckmire, and Zonderkidz-Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Buckmire wrote his novel in response to a question from his younger brother in 2020, amidst the pandemic and the racial reckoning that followed George Floyd’s murder: “How do I not become another hashtag?”

The novel tells the story of Reed and Olive, half-white and half-Black siblings living in Brooklyn, who have two unjust run-ins with police officers in which they are falsely accused, mistreated, and injured. Their father is a criminal defense attorney who has educated them on their rights and strategies they can use to stand up for themselves and de-escalate these situations, and the siblings use these strategies in their encounters. While they do come home safe on both occasions, the injustice has lasting effects on both of them.

The book’s purpose is clearly to educate rather than to entertain, and so as a work of fiction, it comes across as awkward and message-driven. But in his author’s note, Buckmire, a public defender himself, explains that his novel “began as a tool to help young people learn their rights and spark a conversation.” And in this, it certainly succeeds.

There is a wealth of information in the novel about the rights Americans have in any encounter with police, how to de-escalate these encounters when they become dangerous, and ultimately, to “come home safe.” The narrative is engaging, and it’s heartbreaking to see the unjust way in which Reed and Olive are treated, knowing that this is a reality for many men, women, and children in America. It’s also appropriate for middle and high school students, allowing teachers to explore questions of social justice without worrying about objectionable content.

Thank you NetGalley, Zonderkidz-Books, and Blink for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the copy, really appreciate it!

insightful read, need more like this!

Come Home Safe written by Brian Buckmire, follows New York siblings Reed and Olive in two different situations that they experience with police. Both Reed and Olive are POC, and know that they need to be able to Come Home Safe. But some situations that they are put in based on circumstances out of their control make that hard.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I feel like I learned about different less known civil rights activists, and I also appreciated that part of the book was told from a female point of view. I feel like this is something that is not shown as much in young adult literature about police interactions and brutality. I appreciated how the siblings were helped by each other and their parents to be able to handle the different situations and their responses to it. I definitely recommend this book for middle school and up! Thank you to NetGalley and to the author and publisher of this book for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Come Home Safe by Brian Buckmire spotlights the pervasive issue of systemic racism, corruption of power in law enforcement, and biases and racial profiling in society past and present. Reed, a 14 year old Black freshman at Elijah McCoy High School in Manhattan and his middle school sister Olive, fall victim to racial profiling and abuse by law enforcement as they ride the subway home to Brooklyn where they live with their white mother and Black father, a social justice attorney and public defender. As the story goes, Reed and Olive are approached and questioned by two white police officers accusing them of jumping the turnstile and passing between cars. Reed is asked to show his ID and when he questions the officers, they get aggressive assuming he has something to hide. They yank him off the train, slamming him against the concrete wall, wrestling him to the ground, twisting his arm behind his back and cuffing him. Olive knows enough to record the entire exchange with her phone while Reed continues to maintain his innocence. Eventually Reed is released when the real culprits are caught, proving that this is a case of mistaken identity.

Reed and Olive are conditioned and coached by their father at a young age on how to interact with police officers. Advice such as don’t fight back, keep your phone in your front pocket with a bright-colored case that isn’t black or brown (not to resemble a gun), show your hands at all times, don’t wear a hoodie, and don’t hide your face underscores the importance of coming home safe. Their father’s wise advice resonates and continues to guide them. Olive, not able to shake what happens to her brother Reed, is motivated to learn everything she can about the justice system so as to be educated and prepared for the inevitable. Come Home Safe is a stark reminder of the reality that those three little words that we all utter without thinking take on an entirely new meaning for people of color. There are many real stories of innocent people who have fallen victim to racism and police brutality; some come home safe and others are not so lucky. I highly recommend this book; it is a must-read for all middle and high school students alike.

5 stars

Wow. This is a heavy book that is executed flawlessly. I don't think I've ever read a book that acknowledges the impact of racial bias by police on black people in day to day life. It was heartbreaking to see the change in Reed, especially as seen through his little sister's eyes. It's such an emotional read that will make you sad and mad at the same time. This read also serves as such a great instructional manuel to try to keep safer interacting with the police. This should be required reading.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing a copy for me to share my honest opinions.

This story reads like an informative narrative, which I believe was the intention. I would highly recommend this for young black and brown kids. It is real, while also being informative. That said, I think it reads like an essay, and not a novel. For this reason, I found it hard to emotionally connect with. I think that with a bigger push, it could've done been elevated. I would have loved to see this be written with a more emotional mindset. Even still, I think the story overall is solid and I would buy it for my young kids in the future.

This is the perfect book for anyone of any race or age. It might be in the YA genre. But anyone would benefit from reading it.
It's realistic and infuriating in the truth that it tells.
The characters are fleshed out (Reed and Olive are sympathetic characters) and the story is engaging.
Its a good book to start a dialogue about the criminalization of Black children.
People often do not think of things unless it happens to them or someone close to them.
This book should be require reading. Let's hope it doesn't wind up on a banned book list.

“Dad, I just want to know how to not become a hashtag”

Reading Come Home Safe brought me so many emotions. Anger was probably the one I felt the most. Seeing what Reed and Olive went through with dealing with cops or people who are either flat-out racist or biased, made me infuriated. I wish the things they went through were only fiction. Cops killing and harassing black people just because they can. People make assumptions because of the color of their skin. Believing and siding with white people without ever hearing black voices. if we don’t matter then how do you fight for yourself when the system and government are meant to be used against people like you?

There are many things we teach our children about how to handle cops: make sure your hands are visible, always announce when you are about to move or grab something that is concealed. Teaching them about their rights and telling them that the world may see them differently and will have to advocate for themselves more times than they would like. The worst part of it all, you can do everything correctly, and yet there's still a chance that you may not return home safely.

“But here’s the last lesson: There may come a time when a decision needs to be made. Your rights or your life. I hope you never have to make this choice, but if you do, I need you to choose your life. Choose your life each and every time.”

I will recommend this book to anyone who believes black lives matter. I also believe this would be a great book in a classroom. I enjoyed the discussion questions at the end. I encourage everyone one read them and think about them.

Gives insight on what it’s like to be black in America and how we have to be fearful of the police and how they treat black and brown bodies. Very informative and well written.

Thanks Zonderkiz-books/Blink and NetGalley for this ARC.

Come Home Safe by Brian Buckmire is a YA book but one I think should be read by everyone who can read if only to understand , live and feel through the social injustices facing our society. I had to put this book down many times to have a good cry. A cathartic cry. This is why BLM is not just a moment/ or even a movement but it needs to be a paradigm shift. This is why this book should be standard issue reading for all young adults.

I cannot rate this highly enough!

Such an eye opening yet truly sad story. This truly hurt my heart to read that people have to experience this and that the injustices due to race are happening. Such a moving story that truly reels you in. The author has such a beautiful way with words that throws you straight into the action, that feels like you're there living this story out with the characters. Heartbreaking, raw, eye opening and truly something everyone should read.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Zonderkidz-Books to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

Great book. I was able to connect with all the characters and it was a quick read for me. This book resonated with me since I have children this age. This was my first read from this author and I hope to read more of his work.

How do I NOT become a hashtag?

Let's start by saying this book has triggers! Unfortunately we live in a world that we have to brace our children for the unimaginable and the unforeseen. Just to make sure our kids COME HOME SAFE. This book is full of knowledge; know your rights. Try your best to stay calm and keep your hands visible at all times. The fact that the he waited till the last story to let the audience know that the mom was "not" African American so that no one could form a bias. My jaw dropped lol. This was an amazing read!

Come Home Safe was beautifully written and I think it is very important read for all teens and young adults in the current climate of the world. I will definitely be recommending this book to my teen/young adult patrons at the library.

I really enjoyed this book. I feel like it could be used to start conversations at home or at school to help keep children of color safe in a lot of situations. I think it can also be used to spread awareness of how allies can help in different situations as well.

'Come Home Safe' reads almost like a textbook for what Black/Brown teens should do when faced with police officers. Olive and Reed both face different brushes with the law, and each apply the lessons from their lawyer father to navigate conversations with cops, managers of stores, and 911 operators. It's more informative than entertainment, but the information is very important for BIPOC teens.

I will admit I found this book very dry to read, and I struggle to think for how it could be engaging outside of a Book Club or classroom. The writing is reminiscent of a Dhar Mann short. The topic, however, is super important, so I'd like to see author Brian Buckmire condense the legalspeak into a pamphlet like Alok Vaid-Menon's 'Beyond the Gender Binary,' for example.

Regardless, giving it 5 stars for subject matter.

3.5 stars

This book is so important for all children to read. It discusses the realities that children and people of color go through on a daily basis. It’s very important that white children know and understand this. The book is also important for black and brown children to read as it discusses what to do when situations arise.

Being black in America will always be a threat to others. It’s so unfortunate and crazy that we have to have books, even in the fictional space, that clearly articulate what we go through and how it truly feels to be wrongly accused of something. This book helped me explain things to my daughter with what we face everyday with racial discrimination. Kids of any age need to understand the importance of how to control themselves in situations their skin is unfortunately not liked. Thank you for a wonderfully written book!